Friday morning news: November 3rd, 2023

Israel aid vote » At the Capitol, House Republicans approved a bill that would send nearly $15 billion dollars in aid to Israel.

AUDIO: On this vote, the yeas are 226. The nays are 196. The bill is passed.

Only 12 Democrats backed the bill. And that’s largely because that plan calls for cuts in recently expanded IRS funding to pay for that aid.

And Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said don’t bother sending the bill to the upper chamber.

SCHUMER: The Senate will not be considering this deeply flawed proposal from the House GOP.

Schumer said instead, the Senate will work on its own bill that would also include aid for Ukraine, among other things.

House Speaker Mike Johnson wants to tackle those matters separately.

Israel offensive » Meantime, in Gaza:

SOUND: [Gaza war]

Israeli soldiers continue to advance in and around Gaza City.

HAGARI: [Speaking Hebrew]

Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari says troops are engaging in “face-to-face battles with Hamas terrorists.”

The IDF says it has killed 130 militants in the latest battles. But 19 Israeli soldiers have also been killed.

Civilian suffering » And for civilians in both Israel and Gaza, the horrors of the Hamas attacks and subsequent war remain evident.

In Tel Aviv …

SOUND: [Hostage demonstration]

… loved ones of those still being held hostage by Hamas demonstrated Thursday for their return.

CIVILIAN: I have uncles and sisters of my friends. We need them home now. We need them home now.

SOUND: [Gaza suffering]

And in northern Gaza some families wept after a deadly strike near a UN school where displaced Palestinians were sheltering.

SOUND: [Gaza suffering]

Blinken in Israel » U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken is in Israel today for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said they will discuss—quote—“concrete steps” to minimize harm to civilians in Gaza.

BLINKEN: And this is something that the United States is committed to. I’m not going to get into the details here, but it’s very much on the agenda.

Blinken will make multiple other stops in the Middle East, including in Jordan. He said he’ll stress Israel’s right to defend itself. But he added—quote—“How Israel does this matter.”

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the White House would like to see a humanitarian pause.

KIRBY: A temporary pause that’s localized that would allow us to get aid in and to get our people out is a good thing for the people of Gaza. It’s a good thing for the Americans that are being held hostage.

He stressed that a temporary pause is not the same thing as a general cease-fire.

Bankman-Fried guilty » A federal jury in Manhattan has found former cryptocurrency mogul and billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried guilty of fraud.

But federal prosecutor Damian Williams says this was not just any financial crime.

WILLIAMS: Sam Bankman-Fried perpetrated one of the biggest financial frauds in American history, a multi-billion-dollar scheme designed to make him the king of crypto.

Prosecutors said he turned his customers’ accounts into his “personal piggy bank” as up to $14 billion disappeared.

Bankman-Fried now awaits a sentencing trial in March of next year.

Bobby Knight obit » Indiana Hoosiers are mourning the loss of legendary Hall of Fame basketball coach Bobby Knight.

AUDIO: The basket is good, and Indiana is the national champion.

Knight led the Indiana University men’s basketball team to win three NCAA championships.

But he came under fire at times for his combustible temper. Some accused him of abusive behavior toward players.

In a 2007 interview, Knight said he only pressed players to get the best out of them.

KNIGHT: I don’t expect you people to have agreed with what I’ve done, and if I did, I would have asked your opinion. And I have never asked the opinions of very many.

Knight’s family says the 83-year-old passed away at his home in Indiana.

Beatles song » The Beatle's have released a new single featuring both the late John Lennon and George Harrison.

MUSIC: [Now and Then]

Lennon recorded a lo-fi demo of the song Now and Then at home more than 50 years ago.

Producers were able to use artificial intelligence to isolate and enhance his vocals for one last Beatle’s hit.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Culture Friday with Katie MCoy. Plus, revisiting the film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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